Durden’s Love For Bubbe

Jewish Big Brother contestant Jonathan Durden who came out of the house to attend his grandmother’s funeral has spoken of the importance of being around for his family.

His bubbe, Blanche, who died on Monday, was the oldest resident at Jewish Care’s Rubens House.

“I had three weeks of my dream, I knew it was now time to help my mum, I wasn’t brought up in a Jewish way for nothing. There is absolutely no way I couldn’t go to the funeral,” he told TotallyJewish. “At certain times a nice Jewish boy has to hold his Mum’s hand. My Dad is unable to attend the funeral as he is quite ill so it is absolutely the right thing for me to do.”

Durden also spoke of how grateful he was to Blanche and of their loving relationship. “She helped bring me up. My fondest memory is when I was 14 and broke my leg playing rugby. She walked all the way from Newbury Park to St Georges to get me a wheelchair.”

Despite coming out of the Big Brother house, Durden may be allowed to go back in. According to a Big Brother insider: “Jonathan has been a real hit with not just the audience, also with the other housemates. We’ve yet to speak to Jonathan about what he would like to do, but if he’s up for being involved again, we would certainly consider it.”